Improvement in velocipedes



J. B. ROOT.

Velo'cipede.

No. 210,435. Patented Dec. 3, I878.

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UNITED STATES PATENT DEETpE.

JOHN B. ROOT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.;

IMPROVEMENT IN VELOCIPEDES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 210,435, dated December3, 1878; application filed May 8, 1878.

'To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN B. ROOT, of. the" city of New York, in thecounty and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Vehicles or Traveling Machines, of which the following is aspecification:

In my application for Letters Patent for improvement inroad-locomotives, filed October 27, 1877, the driving-wheels were somounted and operated that their paths of travel were diagonal to thedirection in which the machine was moving, the caster-wheels, whichacted as drivers, being so arranged that those of each pair constantlyreceded from and approached each other in their movements. The sameprinciple-driving-wheels tracking diagonally to the general direction ofthe vehicleis applied to the construction which forms the subject ofthis patent, but with this modification, that the drivingwheels vibratesinuiltaneously-in the same direction, so that they remain substantiallythe same distance apart.

The invention consists of a platform,in combination withrearwardlyinclined casterwheels, so attached to the platform as tovibrate laterally with the lateral movement of the platform, the wholebeing so constructed and arranged that it can be driven by changing thecenter of gravity from side to side of the platform.

This construction is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Arepresents the platform; B B, the driving-wheels; b b, spindles of thewheels B B 5 O, guide-wheel; D, handle of guide-wheel d, connecting-rod,and a a a frames attached to platform for supporting the wheels. Theplatform may be of any desired shape, that shown in the drawing beingtriangular.

The driving-wheels B B, constructed upon the principleof caster-wheels,are mounted in the frames to a, located at the rear angles of theplatform, so that their spindles b b will turn freely in the frames to ato permit the wheels to take any direction in which they may be impelledby the force exerted upon the platform. The spindles of thecaster-wheels B B are so mounted in the frames a a as to be inclined tothe platform in a'rearward direction.

The guide-wheel O is located at the remainin g angle of the platform,and the rod on which the handle D is mounted is inclined or bentbackward, so as to bring the handle within easy reach of the operator,who stands or sits near the center of the platform. The weight of theplatform and its load rest upon shoulders on the stocks of thecaster-wheels.

The vehicle is actuated and controlled as follows: The operator standsupon the central part of the platform, facing the guidewheel, and swayshis body from side to side, or throws his weight suddenly from one footto the other, thus changing the center of gravity from one side jg tl eother of the platform. This change of weight upon the platform gives toit a lateral movement, and this lateral movement of the platform causesthe spindles b b to turn in their hearings in their frames a a, andchanges the direction of the caster-wheels B B, causing them to runalternately to the right and left of a line representing the generalline of progression of the vehicle. Thus the action of thesedrivingwheels becomes very like that of an car in sculling through thewater, or a skater when he propels himself by the swaying of the body,with both feet side by side on the ice.

The machine can be guided by simply turning the guide-wheel from rightto left, or vice versa, by means of the handle D.

What is claimed as new isl. A vehicle or traveling machine propelled bymeans of inclined caster-wheels, substantially as described.

2. A vehicle or traveling machine consisting of a platform mounted uponrearwardlyinclined caster-wheels and a guide-wheel, constructed andoperating substantially as set forth.

JOHN 13. R001.

Witnesses: 1 REM. A. SMITH Bon'r. H. DUNCAN.

